Venturi jet basket assembly for use in a wellbore and methods for use

ABSTRACT

A venturi jet basket assembly adapted to be coupled to a tubing that extends into a wellbore includes a body and a jet nozzle subassembly. The body includes a wall that defines a passageway that extends longitudinally through the body. The body also includes an opening extending through the wall and into the passageway. The wall also includes a flute formed in an outer surface of the wall of the body. The flute is in fluid communication with the opening. The jet nozzle subassembly is disposed within the passageway and includes a jet nozzle. The jet nozzle is arranged to direct fluid received through the tubing through the opening and into the flute such that the fluid is guided into the wellbore by the flute.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/473,934, filed Mar. 20, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

During the drilling, work over, or plug and abandonment of oil and gasproducing wells, a variety of down hole tools or components may beattached to a pipe or coiled tubing string and utilized to performvarious functions within the wellbore. One such downhole component is aventuri jet basket that can be used to retrieve debris from thewellbore. Venturi jet baskets operate using the venturi effect to siphonup debris. In such a device, a high velocity jet of fluid is directedthrough an opening to create a pressure drop. The pressure differentialbetween the high velocity jet of fluid and the surrounding fluid createsa siphoning effect which pulls materials into the bore of the venturijet basket where they can be contained within debris screens or otherdevices and removed from the wellbore.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein are directed to a venturi jet basketassembly adapted to be coupled to a tubing that extends into a wellbore.The venturi jet basket assembly includes a body and a jet nozzlesubassembly. The body includes a wall that defines a passageway thatextends longitudinally through the body. The body also includes anopening extending through the wall and into the passageway. The wallalso includes a flute formed in an outer surface of the wall of thebody. The flute is in fluid communication with the opening. The jetnozzle subassembly is disposed within the passageway and includes a jetnozzle. The jet nozzle is arranged to direct fluid received through thetubing through the opening and into the flute such that the fluid isguided into the wellbore by the flute.

Embodiments described herein are also directed to a venturi jet basketassembly adapted to be coupled to a tubing that extends into a wellbore.The venturi jet basket assembly includes a body and a jet nozzlesubassembly. The body includes a wall that defines a passageway thatextends longitudinally through the body. The body also includes anopening extending through the wall and into the passageway. The wallalso includes a flute formed in an outer surface of the wall of thebody. The flute is in fluid communication with the opening and extendshelically about the body. The flute varies in depth along its lengthsuch that the flute is deeper at a first end that is adjacent to theopening than at an opposite second end. The jet nozzle subassembly isdisposed within the passageway and includes a jet nozzle. The jet nozzleis arranged to direct fluid received through the tubing through theopening and into the flute such that the fluid is guided into thewellbore by the flute.

Embodiments described herein are also directed to a method of collectingdebris in a wellbore. The method includes inserting a venturi jet basketassembly connected to a length of tubing into the wellbore. The venturijet basket assembly includes a body and a jet nozzle subassembly. Thebody includes a wall that defines a passageway that extendslongitudinally through the body. The body also includes an openingextending through the wall and into the passageway. The body alsoincludes a flute formed in an outer surface of the wall of the body, theflute in fluid communication with the opening. The jet nozzlesubassembly is disposed within the passageway and includes a jet nozzle.The method also includes directing fluid received by the jet nozzle fromthe tubing out through the opening and into the flute. The method alsoincludes entrapping debris in a debris chamber of the venturi jet basketassembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the embodiments described herein will be more fullydisclosed in the following detailed description, which is to beconsidered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbersrefer to like parts and further wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front side view of a venturi jet basket assembly, accordingto one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a rear side view of the venturi jet basket assembly of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a jet nozzle subassembly that can be usedwith the venturi jet basket assembly of FIG. 1, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the jet nozzle subassembly of FIG.3, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a stem that can be coupled to thejet nozzle subassembly of FIGS. 3 and 4, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the venturi jet basketassembly of FIG. 1, including the jet nozzle subassembly of FIG. 3 andthe stem of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is another longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along adifferent line of the venturi jet basket assembly of FIG. 1, accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an isometric cross-sectional view of the venturi jet basketassembly of FIGS. 6 and 7, shown assembled with further components todefine a debris chamber, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the venturi jet basket assembly of FIG. 1,deployed in a wellbore.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be consideredpart of the entire written description. The drawing figures are notnecessarily to scale and certain features may be shown exaggerated inscale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity andconciseness. In the description, relative terms such as “horizontal,”“vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivativesthereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should beconstrued to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown inthe drawing figure under discussion. These relative terms are forconvenience of description and normally are not intended to require aparticular orientation. Terms including “inwardly” versus “outwardly,”“longitudinal” versus “lateral” and the like are to be interpretedrelative to one another or relative to an axis of elongation, or an axisor center of rotation, as appropriate. Terms concerning attachments,coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” referto a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to oneanother either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, aswell as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unlessexpressly described otherwise. The term “operatively connected” is suchan attachment, coupling or connection that allows the pertinentstructures to operate as intended by virtue of that relationship.

Embodiments described herein are directed to a venturi jet basketassembly for use in a wellbore. As described herein, the venturi jetbasket assemblies include one or more flutes on an outer surface of abody of the jet basket assembly. These flutes direct fluid dischargedfrom the venturi jet basket assembly into a wellbore to create a vortexand, thereby, cause debris and particles in the wellbore to be dislodgedand swept into the jet basket assembly for removal from the wellbore.

According to one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a venturi jetbasket assembly 10 includes a housing or body having a wall that definesa passageway. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housingincludes a first body (or body portion) 12 and a second body (or bodyportion) 14, although it should be understood that the housing or bodycan include any number of sub-portions. The first body 12 and the secondbody 14 can be connected using any appropriate method. For example, inone embodiment, as shown best in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first body 12 andthe second body 14 are threadably connected. Alternatively, the firstbody 12 and the second body 14 can be bonded, welded, press-fit, orjoined by any other appropriate process. Also shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,the first body 12 has a wall 12 a that defines a passageway 12 b throughthe first body 12. The second body 14 has a wall 14 a that defines apassageway 14 b through the second body 14. In one embodiment, the firstbody 12 and the second body 14 are cylindrical. In other embodiments,the first body 12 and the second body 14 are any appropriatecross-section. The venturi jet basket assembly 10 also includes a jetnozzle subassembly 16 disposed in the passageway 12 b or the passageway14 b. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the jet nozzle subassembly 16 includesone or more jet nozzles 18 configured to direct a high velocity streamof fluid, as will be described further herein.

The venturi jet basket assembly 10 can be coupled to a length of tubing(e.g., coil tubing) such that the venturi jet basket assembly 10 can belowered into a wellbore. In one embodiment, the second body 14 includesinternal threads 14 c (shown in FIGS. 6-8) configured to couple to thetubing. The second body 14 can be coupled directly to the tubing or,alternatively, a fitting can be used to couple the second body 14 to thetubing.

In at least one embodiment, one of the first body 12 or the second body14 includes at least one opening extending through the wall of the body.For example, as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 6, the first body 12 includesopenings 20. The openings 20 extend through wall 12 a and into thepassageway 12 b. The openings 20 are aligned with the jet nozzles 18such that fluid can be directed by the jet nozzles 18 through theopenings 20.

In at least one embodiment, one of first body 12 or second body 14includes flutes on an outer surface of the body. For example, as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, the first body 12 includes flutes 22 formed in anouter surface 12 c of the wall 12 a of the first body 12. The flutes 22are in fluid communication with the openings 20 such that fluid can bedirected by the jet nozzles 18 through the openings 20 and into theflutes 22 such that the fluid is guided into the wellbore by the flutes22.

The first body 12 can have any number of flutes 22 and correspondingopenings 20. In one embodiment, the first body 12 has between one andfive flutes 22 and openings 20. In another embodiment, the first body 12has between two and four flutes 22 and openings 20. In one embodiment,the first body 12 has three flutes 22 and openings 20. In anotherembodiment, the first body 12 has four flutes 22 and openings 20. Inanother embodiment, the first body 12 has five flutes 22 and openings20.

In one embodiment, each of the flutes 22 extend helically about thefirst body 12. In such an embodiment, the fluid is guided along theexterior of the first body 12 by the helically arranged flutes 22 tocreate a vortex in the wellbore. This vortex can help to agitate thedebris in the wellbore, thereby allowing the debris to be more readilyswept into the passageway of the venturi jet basket 10. In addition,during operation, the venturi jet basket assembly 10 can be rotatedabout its longitudinal axis ‘A’ (shown in FIG. 2). This rotation furtherenhances the creation of the vortex. In one embodiment, the venturi jetbasket assembly 10 is rotated in the same direction as the flutes 22wrap around the body 12 (i.e., such that the second end 22 b is theleading portion of the flute 22). In another embodiment, the venturi jetbasket assembly 10 is rotated in the opposite direction from thedirection in which the flutes 22 wrap around the body 12 (i.e., suchthat the second end 22 b is the trailing portion of the flute 22). Inone embodiment, each of the flutes extends more than 90° around thefirst body 12. In another embodiment, each of the flutes extends lessthan 90° around the first body 12. In another embodiment, each of theflutes extends about 90° around the first body 12.

In at least one embodiment, the flutes 22 vary along their length suchthat each flute 22 is deeper at a first end 22 a that is adjacent to theopening 20 than at an opposite second end 22 b. This variation in depthcontrols the flow of the fluid as it enters the wellbore.

The flutes 22 can be any appropriate cross-section. For example, atleast a portion of the flutes 22 can have a semi-circular cross-section.Additionally, or alternatively, the at least a portion of the flutes 22can have vertical sidewalls. In one embodiment, the bottom portion 22 cof the flutes 22 has a radius that is consistent throughout the lengthof the flutes 22. In one embodiment, the radius is less than the depthof the flutes 22 at the first end 22 a. Hence, as shown best in FIG. 7,at the first end 22 a the flutes 22 have side walls 22 d extending fromthe radiused bottom portion 22 c. As the depth of the flute 22 decreasesalong its length, the size of the side walls 22 d decrease until theradius of the bottom portion 22 c is greater than the depth of the flute22. At this point, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the radiused bottomportion 22 c is directly connected with the outer surface 12 c of thewall 12 a.

In at least one embodiment, the jet nozzle subassembly 16 is coupled toa stem 26 that maintains and positions the jet nozzle subassembly 16within the passageway 12 b of the first body 12. As shown in FIG. 5, thestem 26 includes an elongated shaft 28 extending between a first end 30and a second end 32. The first end 30 is configured to couple to the jetnozzle subassembly 16 and the second end 32 is configured to couple tothe second body 14. The first end 30 can couple to the jet nozzlesubassembly 16 through any appropriate method, including a threadedconnection, welding, brazing, press fit, or manufactured as a singlecomponent.

As noted above, the venturi jet basket assembly 10 can include a debrisscreen 24 disposed within the passageway 12 b of the first body 12. Thedebris screen 24 is configured to prevent the debris swept into thepassageway 12 b during operation from passing into the openings 20 andback out into the wellbore. In one embodiment, the debris screen 24 ismagnetic to entrap metallic debris within the wellbore. Additionally, ashoe 34 can be positioned at the distal end of the venturi jet basket 10to interface with the wellbore. The first body 12 can include threads 12d (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) to allow attachment of the shoe 34. Theventuri jet basket assembly 10 can also include one or more catcherassemblies, such as upper catcher assembly 36 and lower catcher assembly38 (shown in FIG. 8). The catcher assemblies 36, 38 prevent debris fromdropping out of the passageway 12 b. As a result, a debris chamber 40(shown in FIG. 8) is formed between the debris screen 24 and the catcherassemblies 36, 38. Debris is retained within the debris chamber 40 toallow removal from the wellbore.

The venturi jet basket assembly 10 can be coupled to coil tubing that isdeployed in the wellbore. In use, when fluid is pumped through the coiltubing to the venturi jet basket assembly 10, the one or more jetnozzles 18 direct the fluid through a corresponding opening 20. When ahigh velocity, high pressure stream of fluid is directed through the jetnozzles 18, an area of low pressure is created in the opening 20. Thepressure differential between this area of low pressure and higherpressures existing in the passageway 12 b causes fluid to travel fromthe passageway 12 b into the opening 20 and along the flutes 22.Additional wellbore fluid is drawn into the passageway 12 b by virtue ofthis process. Debris within the fluid is entrapped in the debris chamber40 between the catcher assemblies 36, 38 and the debris screen 24. Inthis way, debris can be removed from within the wellbore.

In at least one embodiment, the debris chamber 40 spans multiple jointsof tubing or pipe (not shown). In other words, the body 12 can beconnected to one or more joints of tubing or pipe, with the debrisscreen 24 disposed within the body 12 and the catcher assemblies 36, 38disposed in one of the connected joints of tubing or pipe. Hence, thedebris chamber 40 is formed within the body 12 as well as the joints oftubing or pipe that are connected to the body 12.

After collection of debris by the venturi jet basket 10, it can bewithdrawn from the wellbore, along with the length of tubing. The debrisremains entrapped within the debris chamber 40 during withdrawal.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates the venturi jet basket assembly 10engaged with a workstring or tubing 50 and deployed in a wellbore 52(which can be cased or uncased), such as within a production tubing 53in the wellbore 52. Depending on the application in which the venturijet basket assembly 10 is employed, the workstring 50 can include otherdownhole tools, such as cutting tools and downhole motors as examples.The depth of the tubing 50 and the venturi jet basket 10 is controlledby an appropriate deployment system 54 located at the surface 56. Thedepth of the venturi jet basket assembly 10 can be varied to enhance theremoval of debris from the wellbore 52. In addition, as described above,the deployment system 54 can be operated to rotate the venturi jetbasket assembly 10 to enhance the vortex created by the venturi jetbasket assembly 10. After completion of debris removal, the tubing 50and the venturi jet basket assembly 10 can be removed from the wellbore52 by the deployment system 54.

In another embodiment, a method of collecting debris in a wellbore isprovided. The method includes deploying a venturi jet basket assembly 10in the wellbore. The method also includes directing fluid received bythe jet nozzles 18 from the tubing out through the openings 20 and intothe flutes 22. The method also includes entrapping debris in the debrischamber 40 of the venturi jet basket assembly 10. The method alsoincludes removing the venturi jet basket assembly 10 from the wellbore.In one embodiment, the method further includes rotating the venturi jetbasket assembly 10 about its longitudinal axis.

Although the devices, kits, systems, and methods have been described interms of exemplary embodiments, they are not limited thereto. Rather,the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include othervariants and embodiments of the devices, kits, systems, and methods,which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thescope and range of equivalents of the devices, kits, systems, andmethods.

What is claimed is:
 1. A venturi jet basket assembly adapted to becoupled to a tubing that extends into a wellbore, the venturi jet basketassembly comprising: a body including: a wall that defines a passagewaythat extends longitudinally through the body; an opening extendingthrough the wall and into the passageway; and a flute formed in an outersurface of the wall of the body, the flute in fluid communication withthe opening; and a jet nozzle subassembly disposed within the passagewayand comprising a jet nozzle arranged to direct fluid received throughthe tubing through the opening and into the flute, wherein the fluid isguided into the wellbore by the flute.
 2. The venturi jet basketassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the flute extends helicallyabout the body.
 3. The venturi jet basket assembly as recited in claim2, wherein the flute extends more than 90° around the body.
 4. Theventuri jet basket assembly as recited in claim 1, comprising aplurality of flutes formed in the outer surface of the body, each of theplurality of flutes in fluid communication with one of a plurality ofopenings that extends through the wall and into the passageway, andwherein the jet nozzle subassembly includes a plurality of jet nozzles,each of the plurality of jet nozzles arranged to direct fluid throughone of the plurality of openings and into one of the plurality offlutes.
 5. The venturi jet basket assembly as recited in claim 1,wherein the flute varies in depth along its length such that the fluteis deeper at a first end that is adjacent to the opening than at anopposite second end.
 6. The venturi jet basket assembly as recited inclaim 1, further comprising a second body and a stem, the stem coupledat a first end to the jet nozzle subassembly and at a second end to thesecond body, wherein the stem retains the jet nozzle subassembly inposition.
 7. The venturi jet basket assembly as recited in claim 6,wherein the stem includes an elongated shaft extending between a firstend and a second end, the first end configured to couple to the jetnozzle subassembly and the second end configured to couple to the body.8. The venturi jet basket assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein atleast a portion of the flute has a semi-circular cross section.
 9. Theventuri jet basket assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein at least aportion of the flute has vertical side walls.
 10. A venturi jet basketassembly adapted to be coupled to a tubing that extends into a wellbore,the venturi jet basket comprising: a body including: a wall that definesa passageway that extends longitudinally through the body; an openingextending through the wall and into the passageway; and a flute formedin an outer surface of the wall of the body and in fluid communicationwith the opening, the flute extending helically about the body, theflute varying in depth along its length such that the flute is deeper ata first end that is adjacent to the opening than at an opposite secondend; and a jet nozzle subassembly disposed within the passageway andcomprising a jet nozzle arranged to direct fluid received through thetubing through the opening and into the flute, wherein the fluid isguided into the wellbore by the flute.
 11. The venturi jet basketassembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the flute extends more than 90°around the body.
 12. The venturi jet basket assembly as recited in claim10, comprising a plurality of flutes formed in the outer surface of thebody, each of the plurality of flutes in fluid communication with one ofa plurality of openings that extends through the wall and into thepassageway, and wherein the jet nozzle subassembly includes a pluralityof jet nozzles, each of the plurality of jet nozzles arranged to directfluid through one of the plurality of openings and into one of theplurality of flutes.
 13. The venturi jet basket assembly as recited inclaim 10, further comprising a second body and a stem, the stem coupledat a first end to the jet nozzle subassembly and at a second end to thesecond body, wherein the stem retains the jet nozzle subassembly inposition.
 14. The venturi jet basket assembly as recited in claim 13,wherein the stem includes an elongated shaft extending between a firstend and a second end, the first end configured to couple to the jetnozzle subassembly and the second end configured to couple to the body.15. The venturi jet basket assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein atleast a portion of the flute has a semi-circular cross section.
 16. Theventuri jet basket assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein at least aportion of the flute has vertical side walls.
 17. A method of collectingdebris in a wellbore, comprising: deploying a venturi jet basketassembly in a wellbore, the venturi jet basket assembly comprising: abody including: a wall that defines a passageway that extendslongitudinally through the body; an opening extending through the walland into the passageway; a flute formed in an outer surface of the wallof the body, the flute in fluid communication with the opening; and ajet nozzle subassembly disposed within the passageway and comprising ajet nozzle; directing fluid received by the jet nozzle from tubing outthrough the opening and into the flute; and entrapping debris in adebris chamber of the venturi jet basket assembly.
 18. The method asrecited in claim 17, wherein the flute extends helically about the body.19. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising rotating theventuri jet basket assembly about its longitudinal axis in a rotationaldirection that is the same as the direction in which the flute helicallyextends about the body while directing fluid received by the jet nozzlefrom the tubing out through the opening and into the flute.
 20. Themethod as recited in claim 17, further comprising rotating the venturijet basket assembly about its longitudinal axis in a rotationaldirection that is opposite of the direction in which the flute helicallyextends about the body while directing fluid received by the jet nozzlefrom the tubing out through the opening and into the flute.